San Diego Cake Club

CAKE SHOW JUDGING FAQ

Why have cake shows? - To give cake decorators a chance to expand their skills, try new things and get new ideas. Most importantly, to educate the public with the outstanding things that can be created. Some make money for the local clubs, but in the case of San Diego, most of the money collected goes to charity.
Why enter? - Its a good idea to test yourself and your creativity. You meet new people with the same interests as you and exchange ideas.
At which level should I enter? - When entering a show, it is up to you to place yourself in the proper level. Integrity counts. This is especially important when kids do cakes. Let them do their own, don't "hold their hand" or do it for them - you'll probably be amazed at how well they do on their own! The people putting on the show may not know you, so they must rely on you to tell them how long you've been decorating and what skills you can perform. Be honest, you'll feel better for it and it will make things fair for everyone. Anyone who wins a "Best of Show" award will be asked to move up to the next level the next time they compete at a San Diego show.
Presentation - Overall design should be well coordinated including covering your boards to compliment your design.
Creativity - Copying vs. originality. Original ideas are generally better than ones copied from books. But remember, judges have not always seen everything and even a copied design sometimes slips through.
Precision and neatness - Neatness definitely counts with the judges! Many times a simpler cake done with perfection will gain a higher score than one with an intricate design that is poorly executed. Shells or balls should be uniform sizes and borders should be consistent in size and design.
Color - Keep colors as realistic as possible. Shading can make a big difference in the realistic look of a cake. It is never a good idea to go "too bright." Not only will it ruin the look of the cake, but you may run into problems with colors "bleeding."
Size - Bigger is not always better! Size only counts when it is extremely well done. Many times the public will not understand why a tiny cake will win over a multi-tiered extravaganza. Usually it is because the small cake is done with perfection.
Boards - The board size is very important. It should be sturdy and approximately 4" larger than the cake and MUST BE FOOTED! The thickness of the board or boards should be taken into consideration. There are always exceptions, but remember that the most important fact is that the board fit the design in both size and covering.
Degree of difficulty - Some techniques are harder than others and the judges will generally take this into account. For example, rest assured that judges will take into consideration the difficulty of buttercream versus gumpaste. Don't do a harder technique poorly just to gain points. A simpler technique done perfectly will get more points!
Plastic Figures, Silk Flowers, etc. - Plastics are generally discouraged from use except for children. If a plastic figure is used, judges will generally ignore it and look at what is left on the cake and judge that. Sometimes you must use a plastic piece to complete your design, just use as little as possible and ask yourself, "Could I make this using another technique such as gumpaste, royal icing or marzipan?" Wedding cake separators are an exception. They do not generaly detract from your score unless they are inappropriate for your design. Purchased wedding cake tops are generaly ignored by the judges, but if they are in the advanced or professional category, judges may score higher on something hand made, rather than purchased.